Supreme Court will hear Michigan affirmative action case

Mark Sherman, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court is taking up a case about Michigan's voter-approved ban on taking account of race in college admissions.

The justices are hearing argument Tuesday over whether the change to the state constitution that voters backed in 2006 discriminates against minorities.

The outcome also could affect similar measures in California and Washington state and perhaps signal whether affirmative action opponents may try to replicate their successes at the ballot box in other states.

The case is the second that deals with affirmative action in as many years. In June, the justices ordered lower courts to take another look at the University of Texas admissions plan in a ruling that could make it harder for public colleges to justify any use of race in admissions